Automatic ignition mechanism for plural gas burners



April 20, 1954 L 2,675,870

AUTOMATIC IGNITION MECHANISM FOR PLURAL GAS BURNERS Filed NOV. 20. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 20, 1954 R L, PERL I 2,675,870

AUTOMATIC IGNITION MECHANISM FOR PLURAL GAS BURNERS Filed NOV. 20. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :25"; :l warun"--- xgwzsfmxga INVEN TOR.

file/rare A. Perl BY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 AUTOMATIC IGNITION MECHANISM FOR PLURAL GAS BURNERS Richard L. Perl, Galion, Ohio, assignor to The Tappan Stove Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application November 20, 1950, Serial No. 196,681

This invention relates to automatic ignition mechanism for the top burners of cooking ranges using gaseous fuel. g 7

It is especially adapted for use with a plurality of spaced burners and includes a gaseous fuel pilot burner which is centrally disposed with respect to the main burner. The pilot burner is ignited by an electric resistance ignition element and the main burners are ignited by the pilot burner through flash tubes which extend from the main burners into close proximity with the pilot burner. The supply of gas to the pilot burner is controlled by the valves for the main burner. The opening of any of the main burner valves to supply gas to a main burner will also admit gas to the pilot burner. The electric ignition element is in an electric circuit which includes a normally closed switch and a plurality of normally open switches. There :is a nor: mally open switch operatively associated with each burner valve in such a manner that the opening of the valve will close the switch, and conversely the closing of the valve will open the switch. The normally closed switch is arranged to be opened by a thermostatic element which is mounted in position to be heated by the pilot burned after it has been ignited by the electric ignition element. The opening of the normally closed switch will break the circuit to and deenergize the electric ignition element which need not be energized after the pilot burner has been ignited. V In operation it is only necessary to open the selected burner valve. The opening of the valve admits gas to themain burner and to the pilot burner and closes the normally open switch associated therewith, The closing of the normally open switch will make the circuit to and energize the electric resistance element which will then ignite the pilot burner. The pilot burner will ignite the main burnerfthrough its hash tube, and will heat the thermostatic element, and the thermostatic element when heated will open the normally closed switch and'breakthe' circuit to and de-energize the electricresistance element. the event the pilot burner'should' be extinguished for any reasonwhil'e the" gas is still turned on the thermostatic element will cool and close the normally closedswitch which will re-energize theelectri'c'resistance element and re-ignite the pilot'burner; f 1" The principal object of the invention is'toprovide a very simple and efiicient automatic i'g'ni tion-mechanism for the'top burners of cookirlg ranges; I Another-object of; the" invention to i provide 7 Claims. (Cl. 158125) in a mechanism of this character which includes a pilot burner and an electric resistance element which ignites the pilot burner means operative to automatically de-energize the electric resistance element after the pilot burner has been ignited.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic layout showing my invention applied to a pair of spaced gaseous fuel burners;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the removable control unit;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numerals l and 2 are applied to a pair of spaced top burners of a cooking range. Gaseous fuel is supplied to the burner I, from a supply manifold 3, through its mixing tube l; and to the burner 2, from the manifold 3, through its mixing tube 5. A pair of cut-01f valves 6 and I control the supply of gas to the burners I and 2, respectively. A pilot burner 8 is suitably mounted between the free ends of a pair of aligned flash tubes 9 and H) which are carried by the burners and 2, respectively. Gaseous fuel is supplied to the pilot burner 8 from the manifold 3 through the valve 7 and the conduit I l or through the valve 6 and the conduits l2 and H. The cut-off valves 6 and l are so constructed that when either one is turned on to supply gas to one of the main burners l and 2 gas is also supplied to the pilot burner 8. The pilot burner 8 is ignited by an electric resistance ignition ele ment !3 when it is energized, and the main burners l and 2 are ignited by the pilot burner 23 through the flash tubes 9 and Ill. The electric ignition element 13 is mounted in operative relation to the pilot burner 8 on an insulating block IA of a removable control unit generally indicated by the numeral l5. The energization of the electric ignition element I3 is controlled by a pair of normally open switches IS and Il and a normally closed switch 18. The normally open switch It is operatively associated with the valve 6 and comprises the contacts l9 and 2t and the bridging conductor bar 2i. i6 is adapted to be closed through the medium of a cam section 22 carried by the valve stem 23' of the valve Sand a link 24 simultaneously with The switch the opening of the valve 5 and to be opened simultaneously with the closing of the valve 5. The normally open switch ii is operatively associated with the valve 1 and comprises the contacts and 25 and the bridging conductor bar is adapted to be closed through the medium a cam section 28 carried by the valve stem 29 of the valve 1 and a link 3% simultaneously with the opening of the valve I and to be opened simultaneously with the closing of the valve 3. The switch is is incorporated in the control unit l5 and is adapted to be opened by a thermostatic element 3! which is also incorporated in the control unit IS in position to be heated by the flame from the pilot burner 8. The specific construc tion of the control unit l5 and the component parts thereof will be described in detail hereinafter.

In operation it is only necessary to turn on the control valve of the selected main burner. The turning on or opening of the valve will close associated normally open svitch it or il and supply gas to both the main burner and the pilot burner. The closing of the switch it or ii will make the circuit to and energize the electric ignition element !3 which will then ignite the pilot burner. The main burner will then be ignited through its flash tube by the pilot burner. After ignition the pilot burner will also heat the thermostatic element 3| which after being heated will open the normally closed switch it; and maintain it open as long as the thermostatic element 3i is heated by the pilot burner. The opening of the normally closed switch it breaks the circult to and cle-energizes the electric ignition element it which need not remain energized after the pilot burner has been ignited. If after one main burner has been ignited the other burner is turned on it will be ignited through its flash tube by the pilot burner which has already been ignited, it being understood that the pilot burner is arranged to burn as long as either of the main burners is turned on. If the pilot burner should be extinguished for any reason while either of the main burners is turned on the thermostatic element 3i will immediately cool and allow the switch it to close which will reestablish the circuit to and re-energize the electric ignition element is which will then re-ignite the pilot burner 8.

The electric circuit which includes the electric ignition element l3, the normally open switches it and I1 and the normally closed switch it will now be traced, assuming first that the burner i is turned on by opening the valve 5. The opening of the valve 5 will supply gas to the main burner and the pilot burner ii and will close the normally open switch It. As soon as the switch I6 is closed current will flow from one side 32 of the line through the loads 33 and 34 to the contact 29 of the switch it and through the bar 2| to the contact 25. From the contact 20 the current will flow through, the lead 35 to the terminal 36 of the electric resistance ignition element i3 and then through the ignition element l3 to the terminal 31 thereof. From the terminal 31 the current will flow through the lead 33 to the normally closed switch l3, thence through the switch I8 and back to the other side 39 of the line through the lead it, completing the circuit to and energizing the ignition element !3, which will remain energized until the thermostatic element opens the switch '2 8 and breaks the circuit. Assuming that the main burner 2 is first turned on by openingthe valve 1',

the opening of the valve 1 will supply gas to the main burner 2 and the pilot burner 8 and close the normally open switch ll. As soon as the switch I1 is closed current will flow from the side 32 of the line through the lead 33, switch it and lead 4i to the lead 35. From the lead 35 the current will flow through the ignition element l3, switch i8 and back to the other side 39 of the line as previously described. The turning on of either one of the main burners after the other main burner has been turned on and i nited along with the pilot burner will not energize the electric ignition element l3 as the circuit thereto cannot be completed since the thermostatic element 3| is holding the switch it open.

The removable control unit l5 includes a frame 55, the electric ignition element i3 and the insulation block I4, the normally closed switch l8, and the thermostatic element 3|. The frame 59 is formed of thin sheet metal and comprises a base 5! having a pair of spaced parallel upwardly extending vertical side walls 52 and 53 formed integrally therewith. The inner ends of the side walls 52 and 53 are connected by a vertical end wall 54, and the upper edges of the side walls 52 and 53 are connected by a transverse brace 55 which is disposed rearwardly of the end wall 54. The base 5| is cut away or apertured adjacent the end wall 54 as indicated at 56 and the side walls 52 and 53 are notched opposite the cut away section of the base as shown at 58. The other end of the base 5| extends beyond the free ends of the side walls 52 and 53 and terminates in a downward step 59 which is removably mounted in a slot 69 in a fixed supporting member 6|. The opposite end of the frame 59 rests on the flash tubes 9 and ID with the flash tubes 9 and in engaging the notched portions 58 of the side walls 52 and 53. When in position the cut away section 56 of the frame base 5! is disposed over the pilot burner 8 so that when it is ignited it will project a flame up between the side walls 52 and 53. The electric resistance ignition element I3 is removably secured between the terminals 36 and 31 carried by the block. I i of insulating material. The block I4 is mounted between the side walls 52 and 53 adjacent the transverse brace 55 in position to maintain the ignition element iii in operative relation to the pilot burner 8.

The normally closed switch 18 is secured to the base 5| between the side walls 52 and 53 a short distance inwardly from the step 59 and comprises a stationary contact 62 and a movable contact B3. The stationary contact 62 is adjustably mounted in a sleeve 64 which is mounted in a plate 65 of insulating material beneath an aperture 66 in the base 5|. The plate 65 is secured to the under side of the base 5| by rivets 61 and B8. The movable contact 63 is secured to the under side of the top section 69 of a U- shaped spring member which normally biases the contact 63 into engagement with the stationary contact 62. The bottom section 51 of the spring member is secured to the upper side of the base 5| by the rivets 61.

The thermostatic element 3| is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprises a vertical leg 10, a horizontal leg (I and an arm 12. The upper end of the vertical leg 19 is welded to the under side of the traverse brace 55 at 73. The horizontal leg H extends outwardly from the lower end of the vertical leg 70 across the out awaysection 5B of thebase 5| above the pilot burner 8 in position to be heated thereby and has its free end welded to the end wall 54 at I4. I he arm 12 extends outwardly from the vertical leg opposite the horizontal leg "H. The side walls of the legs 10 and H and the arm 12 are all disposed in substantially the same plane, and the lower edge of the arm 12 is turned at a right angle to the side thereof to provide a stiffening rib 15. The free end it of the arm 12 is disposed under a tongue if carried by the top section 69 of the U-shaped spring member of the normally closed switch I8. After the pilot burner has been ignited by the electric ignition element l3 the pilot burner flame will impinge on and heat the horizontal leg H of the thermostatic element 3!. The heating of the leg l! will elongate it which will flex the arm 72 about the weld l3 and cause the free end 16 of the arm 12 to move upwardly and lift the contact 63 out of engagement with the stationary contact 62.

The specific construction of the thermostatic element 3| per se forms no part of the present invention, but constitutes the subject matter of Patent No. 2,635,003 issued April 14, 1953.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that I have provided a very simple and efiicient mechanism for accomplishing the objects of the invention.

It is to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction shown and described herein as various modifications can be made therein within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: V

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of two spaced gaseous fuel main burners, a gaseous fuel pilot burner disposed between said main burners, a flash tube carried by each of said main burners with the free ends thereof adjacent said pilot burner, a fixed support, a rectangular frame having one end thereof secured to said fixed support and the other end thereof resting on said flash tubes, an electric resistance ignition element carried by said frame in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, a cut-off valve associated with each of said main burners, each of said valves being operative to control the supply of fuel to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner, and means rendered operative by the opening of either of said valves to energize said electric resistance ignition element.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of two spaced gaseous fuel main burners, a gaseous fuel pilot burner disposed between said main burners, .a flash tube carried by each of said main burners with the free ends thereof adjacent saidpilot burner, a fixed support, a rectangular frame having one end thereof secured to said fixed support and the other end thereof resting on said flash tubes, an electween said'main burners, a flash tube carried by each of said main burners with the free ends thereof adjacent said pilot burner, a fixed support, a rectangular frame having one end thereof secured to said fixed support and the other end thereof resting on said flash tubes, an electric resistance ignition element carried by said frame in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, a cut-off valve associated with each of said main burners, each of said valves being operative to control the supply of fuel to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner, a pair of normally open switches one of said switches being associated with each of said valves, a normally closed switch carried by said frame, an electric circuit which includes said electric ignition element said normally open switches and said normally closed switch, operative connections between each of said valves and the associated normally open switch through which the associated normally open switch is closed by the opening of a valve, and means carried by said frame which is responsive to said pilot burner and operative to open said normally closed switch after said pilot burner has been ignited.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of two spaced gaseous fuel main burners, a gaseous fuel pilot burner disposed between said main burners, a flash tube carried by each of said main burners With the free ends thereof adjacent said pilot burner, a fixed support, a rectangular frame having one end thereof secured to said fixed support and the other end thereof resting on said flash tubes, an electric resistance ignition element carried by said frame in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, a cut-off valve associated with each of said main burners, each of said valves being operative to control the supply of fuel to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner, a pair of normally open switches one of said switches being associated with each of said valves, a normally closed switch carried by said frame, an electric circuit which includes said electric i nition element said normally open switches and said normally closed switch, operative connections between each of said valves and the associated normally open switch through which the 7 associated normally open switch is closed by the tric resistance ignition element carried by said frame in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, a cut-off valv associated with each of said main burners, each of said valves being operative to control the supply of fuel to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner, means rendered operative by the opening of either of said valves to energize said electric resistance ignition element, and means carried by said frame and operative to de-energize said electric resistance ignition element after said pilot burner has been ignited.

3. Inan apparatus of the character described, the combination of two spaced gaseous fuel main burners, a gaseous fuel pilot burner disposed beopening of a valve, a thermostatic element carried by said frame in position to b heated by said pilot burner, and operative connections between said normally closed switch and said thermostatic element through which said normally closed switch is opened by said thermostatic element after it has been heated by said pilot burner.

5. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a gas supply manifold, two spaced gaseous fuel main burners each of said burners having a mixing tube through which gas is supplied to said burners from said manifold, a single gaseous fuel pilot burner spaced from each of said main burners, a pair of conduits through which gas may be selectively supplied to said pilot burner from said manifold, a flash tube extending between each of said main burners and said pilot burner through which said main burners are ignited by said pilot burner, a cut-off valve operatively associated with each of said mixing tubes for the main burners, the gas supply manifold, and one of said conduits, each of said valves being operative when open to admit the flow of fuel therethrough from said manifold simultaneously to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner and when closed to simultaneously cut off the flow of fuel therethrough to the associated main burner and said pilot burner thereby adapting said pilot burner to remain ignited during the time either of said main burners are ignited and to be extinguished when both of said main burners are extinguished, an electric resis ance ignition element mounted in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, and means rendered operative by the opening of either of said valves to energize said electric resistance ignition element, and means rendered operative by the ig lllg of said pilot burner to deenergize said electric resistance ignition element.

6. In an apparatus of the character described the corrhii ion of a gas supply manifold, two spaced We fuel main burners each of said burners having a mixing tube through which gas is supp-lied to said burners from said manifold, a single fuel pilot burner spaced from each oi l burners, a pair of conduits through which gas 1 ay be selectively supplied to said pilot burner from said manifold, a hash tube extending between each of said main burners and said pilot burner through which said main burners are ignited by said pilot burner, a cut-0E valve operatively associated with each of said mixing tubes for the main burners, the gas supply maniiol and one of said conduits, each of said valves icing operative when open to admit the flow of thercthrough from said manifold ultaneously to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner and when closed to simultaneously cut oif the how of fuel therethrough to the associated main burner and said pilot burner thereby adapting said pilot burner to remain ignited during the time either of said main burners are ignited and to be extinguished when both of said main burners are extinguished, an elec ic resistance ignition element mounted in po on to ignite said pilot burner when energised, first normally open sv itch operatively associated with one of said valves, a normally closed s tch, an electric circuit which includes said electric resistance ignition element, said first normally open switch and said normally closed switch, a second normally open switch operatively ciated tn the other of said valves and disposed in said circuit in parallel with said first normally open switch, means by which said normally open switches are individually closed by the opening of the associated valve, and means responsive to pilot burner and operative to open said normally closed switch after said pilot burner has been ignited.

" In an apparatus of the character described J. the combination of a gas supply manifold, two

spaced gaseous fuel main burners each of said burners having a mixing tube through which gas is supplied to said burners from said manifold, a single gaseous fuel pilot burner spaced from each of said main burners, a pair of conduits through which gas may be selectively supplied to said pilot burner from said manifold, a flash tube extending between each of said main burners and said pilot burner through which said main burners are ignited by said pilot burner, a cut-oil valve operatively associated with each of said mixing tubes for the main burners, the gas supply manifold, and one of said conduits, each of said valves being operative when open to admit the flow of fuel therethrough from said manifold simultaneously to the associated main burner and to said pilot burner and when closed to simultaneously out oi the flow. of fuel therethrough to the associated main burner and said pilot burner thereby adapting said pilot burner to remain ignited during the time either of said main burners are ignited and to be extinguished when both of said main burners are extinguished, an electric resistance ignition element mounted in position to ignite said pilot burner when energized, a first normally open switch operatively associated with one of said valves, a normally closed switch, an electric circuit which includes said electric resistance ignition element, said first normally open switch and said normally closed switch, a second normally open switch operatively associated with the other of said valves and disposed in said circuit in parallel with said first normally open switch, means by which said normally open switches are individually closed by the opening of the associated valve, and a thermostatic element mounted in position to be heated by said burner and operative when heated to open said normally closed switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,169,505 Marsh Jan. 25, 1916 1,878,552 Tinnerinan Sept. 20, 1932 1,894,006 Rossi ct al Jan. 10, 1933 2,978,576 Laghetto Apr. 27, 1937 2,176,647 Thompson et al. Oct. 17, 1939 2,212,875 Camp Aug. 27, 1940 22%,685 Ragan Sept. 22, 1942 2,303,868 Stuclzenholt Dec. 1, 1942 2,407,729 Taylor Sept. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 526,713 Germany June 10, 1931 

